Study Warns That Deadly Fungal Infections Could Lead To 40 Million Deaths In 25 Years

According to a study published by The Lancet, Antibiotic-resistant infections could lead to nearly 40 million deaths by 2050.

The Figure Could Rise To Two Million

Researchers found that drug-resistant infections caused over one million deaths annually from 1900 to 2021.

The report indicates that this figure could rise to nearly two million annually by 2050, potentially leading to around 40 million deaths over the next 25 years.

The researchers estimate that access to better treatment and appropriate antibiotics could save the lives of a third of those affected.

Bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria evolve to become drug-resistant, turning common illnesses like pneumonia, UTIs, and diarrhea into potentially deadly conditions.

This adaptation that allows bacteria to survive despite medical interventions is creating a “silent pandemic” that urgently requires attention, according to researchers.

“The threat of fungal pathogens and antifungal resistance, even though it is a growing global issue, is being left out of the debate,” said molecular biologist Norman van Rhijn from the University of Manchester in the UK, reported by Wionews.

The international team of scientists, including van Rhijn, has urged the pharmaceutical industry and governments to “look beyond just bacteria.” They cautioned that without intervention, fungal infections could affect 6.5 million people and lead to 3.8 million deaths each year.

“To Treat Deep Or Invasive Fungal Infections”

“The disproportionate focus on bacteria is concerning because many drug resistance problems over the past decades were the result of invasive fungal diseases, which are largely under-recognized by the community and governments alike,” wrote van Rhijn.

“To treat deep or invasive fungal infections, only four systemic antifungal classes are available and resistance is now the rule rather than the exception for those currently available classes,” stated the authors.

In recent decades, new antifungal treatments have been developed; however, the competition between pathogens and medical advancements is intensifying.

“Even before [these drugs] reach the market after years of development and clinical trials, fungicides with similar modes of action are developed by the agrochemical industry resulting in cross-resistance for critical priority pathogens,” researchers noted.

“Antifungal protection is required for food security. The question is, how do we balance food security with the ability to treat current and future resistant fungal pathogens?” they added.

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